Pacific Tug employs qualified experienced crew, supported by our equally experienced shore based management team. We have full industry knowledge and awareness of the operations we undertake and the ability to provide quality service to our clients.
Our area of operation includes Australia, Papua New Guinea and South Asia. We are able to supply quality tugs, stores transfer vessels, crew transfer vessels, specialised vessels, barges and towage services.
Some of these include:
We have also undertaken marine construction support work at Hay Point, Cape Flattery and Abbott Point.
Our tugs and crew have been contracted for dredging support on various projects in West Papua, Dampier, Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gladstone, Botany Bay, Geelong, Melbourne, Hay Point and Port Kembla.
In addition, we have undertaken many specialised domestic and international towing operations. Just this year, in addition to multiple tows around the Australian coast, we have undertaken 3 international tows. The international tows were all tandem tows, one of these creating a world record for the longest non-stop tow by an Australian tug boat – from Shanghai to Brisbane.
Pacific Tug rendered assistance to the bulk carrier ID Integrity in May 2012 after it encountered main engine failure and was adrift in rough seas being carried North West toward the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns. PT Kotor was able to secure the bulk carrier and tow it away from danger before handing it over to an AMSA vessel.
We have also assisted with several salvages. The PT Monto went to the rescue of a fishing trawler that ran aground on Teewah Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in September 2014. The PT Monto was able to drag the vessel off the beach in front of a crowd of interested holiday makers. In June 2013 PT Monto also assisted with the salvage of an 18 meter fishing boat, Joseph M which ran aground near Lady Elliot Island. The vessel was successfully recovered and towed to Bundaberg for repairs. In August 2007, the ArungSamudera, a sail training ship for the Indonesian Navy was driven onto the sand at Rainbow Beach in heavy weather. The PT Zarka dragged her off the beach and towed her into the Brisbane River where she was repaired.
In 2014, Wide Bay Shipping Services Pty Ltd was established and commenced harbour towage operations for the Port of Bundaberg and Port Alma. Four tugs are currently committed to the operation.
Pacific tug has enjoyed strong growth over the past few years. Our fleet currently stands at 18 including 13 tugs, 3 barges and 2 crew transfer vessels. Our business is focused on providing a safe and professional service supported by well-maintained vessels and exceptional crew and staff.
The company’s first tug, the Bora was used to assist in the construction of the first wharf at Hay Point, Mackay Queensland in the early 70’s.
The fleet grew in 1972 with the purchase of the barge ‘Triton’ and workboat ‘Tornado’. In addition, in 1974 two more workboats were purchased, the ‘Belat’ and ‘Sarita’. At this stage the company was kept busy with general work in the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay which included construction work, stores runs and barge and beacon work for Habour& Marine.
By 1975, Pacific Tug was working in the dredging industry on the Fishermans Island project undertaking dredge assist and crew transfer roles. The workboats ‘Typhoon’ and ‘Levanter’ joined the fleet.
In 1978, the crew boat ‘Saraji’ was purchased and Pacific Tug built the workboat ‘Seletan’ which is still in the fleet today.
In 1981, Pacific Tug purchased the vessels ‘Arnham’, ‘Nautilus’&‘Kuraba’ from West Ham in addition to the stores workboat Striker III (renamed Sumatra).Also in 1981, Pacific Tug was involved with the salvage of the container ship,Anro Asia off the north Coast of Bribie Island.
The high speed crew boat, ‘Pampero’ was purchased in 1982 and in 1984 Pacific Tug commenced work on the export wharf at Cape Flattery. By this time, Pacific Tug was also undertaking large towing jobs such as the towing of large Boral Gas tanks from Adelaide to Botany Bay.
In 1985, Pacific Tug built an Australian first – an integrated tug and barge system. The barge was constructed with a notch in the stern allowing the nose of the tug to lock into position using a special hydraulic coupling system. This set up allowed the two vessels roll as one and pitch individually. The combination carried 1800 ton of mineral from Stradbroke Island to Brisbane on a daily basis until 2012 when they were finally retired and replaced by a ‘later model’ tug and barge.
In the lead up to 1987, Pacific Tug had surfaced on the radar of larger corporations due to the impact it was having in the industry.
The majority of Pacific Tug assets were bought out by the Adelaide Steam Howard Smith Group in 1987, however the company remained with the Peters family.